Even at 20-3, pressure on Spurs

In an age when up-to-the-minute stock quotes are available to anyone with a wireless connection, and “Dancing With the Stars” results stream directly to your cell phone, Spurs forward Antonio McDyess prefers to come about his hard news the old-fashioned way.

A chart in the locker room at the team’s practice facility lists daily updates to the NBA standings. Each morning, McDyess walks by and marvels at the Spurs’ precarious position atop the Western Conference.

Even in the midst of the best start in club history, with the 20-3 Spurs winning like never before, they have only been able to open a 1 ½-game lead on the Dallas Mavericks.

“It seems like we never pull away from those guys,” McDyess said.

Officially, the Spurs will be looking to complete a sweep of a six-game homestand tonight against Milwaukee. Unofficially, they are also competing with the team just up Interstate-35, nipping at their Nikes.

Dallas just had a 12-game winning streak broken by the Bucks on Monday, dropping to 19-5. By matching the Spurs almost win for win, the Mavs have given their southerly neighbor incentive to remain focused in the face of unprecedented early-season success.

Even on nights like tonight, when the opponent in town might lack sex appeal on its own, the game still counts.

“It keeps the pressure on us, keeps us hungry,” Spurs guard Gary Neal said. “We have to continue to win games, or we might slip a couple spots.”

Eleven days ago, the Spurs hunkered down for the longest homestand of the season, aiming to add padding to their already bloated record. Five consecutive victories later, including four straight by at least 15 points, it’s mission accomplished.

The Spurs see no reason to take their foot off the gas now.

On paper, a visit from Milwaukee might provide prime fodder for a comedown. The Bucks (10-13) own a losing record, and rank as the worst offensive team in the NBA.

The surging Spurs, meanwhile, have a nationally televised date in Denver to look ahead to Thursday night, not to mention a perfect record (7-0) against the Eastern Conference.

“We don’t want to have a letdown,” McDyess said. “We’ve been doing a pretty good job of that this year, as far as not letting up.”

If the Bucks’ streak-busting win at Dallas didn’t capture the Spurs’ attention, coach Gregg Popovich’s persnickety film sessions have. Despite his team’s near-perfect start, Popovich predictably says he is having no trouble uncovering nits to pick.

“Coaches are sick people,” Popovich said. “Whether you win or lose, there are always many mistakes made. They’ll never all be corrected, but that’s why we have a job.”

Tim Duncan, the player who has known Popovich the longest, can vouch for his coach’s fastidiousness, even at 20-3. After the Spurs’ went into defensive lockdown to beat Portland 95-78 on Sunday, Duncan predicted a picky Popovich at the next practice.

“What did they score, like 70-something points?” Duncan asked. “That’s 70-something reasons for him to complain.”

Five hours to the north, the Mavericks have supplied Popovich another inspirational tool, should he choose to use it.

Though the standings are readily available for viewing in the Spurs’ locker room, Popovich says it’s too early to pay them much mind. He is more concerned about improving the state of his own team than what the Mavericks, Bucks or anyone else is doing.

The standings, Popovich says, will take care of themselves in time.

“We always try to perfect things, but we’ll never get there,” Popovich said. “The effort is what it’s all about, because maybe it will get you halfway close.”